Switch mechanism



April 15 1924; 7 1,490,726 w. K. BEYERL V SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 20. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet Figl.

, ,Inehtor: Wayne Kb e3 erl Hisflttorney. I

April 15 1924. I 1,490,726

1 v w. K. BEYERL swucn mzcrmmsm Filed May 20. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 3.

Inventorf Wayne K. Bey er'l,

b 4W; 22W;

' His'fljCtorney.

39 //IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII April 15 1924.

W. K. BEYERL SW:ITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 20 1921 Inventor: \Jagne KB eyer'L, by His-fltto W w I W @Emggi Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES -1',490,726 PATENT- OFFICE...

warm: 1:. VBEYEBL,

swrrcn uncnamsm.

Application filed Kay 20, 1921. Serial N0. 471,088.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAYNE K. BEYERL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to automatic circuit controlling devices and an object'is to provide improved means for resetting the tripping :mechanism of such devices, whereby the resetting is automatically performed concurrently withthe operation of the 'circuit controlling device so that no thought or care on the part of the operator is required to insure proper operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for resetting the tripping mechanism early in the switch closing operation, arranged to operate without shocks to the tripping mechanism and arranged to maintain the tripping mechanism in the reset position up to the final closing movement of the switch contacts, whereby the maximum time for abnormal circuit conditions to .clear themselves is insured without making it possible for the operator to hold the switch closed if abnormal conditions still prevail.

A further object of my invention 'is to provide a switch operating mechanism which shall be sturdy in construction and reliable in operation and which shall enable the switch to be opened or closed by a simple operation of the switch operating means and which shall permit the circuit to be automatically opened independently'of the operating lever when abnormal conditions 'existon the circuit.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. I

Figure 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of my invention, the parts being shown in switch closed posltion; Fig. 2 is an elevation p of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in switch opened position; Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modification of my invention, the parts being shown in switch closed ition; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the form myinvention shown in Fig. 3, the parts being in switch opened ition; Fig. 5. is a perspective of the m ification of my invention shown in Fig. 3 with parts broken away, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 3 showing .the

switch operating lever near theend of its suitable contact controlling members 6' for The switch lever is biased by a example. spring 7 to turn clockwise on the shaft 4 that is in a direction to cause the opening of the switch contacts. Also on the shaft 4, is a pivotally mounted member 8, hereinafter called an intermediate lever for clearness in description, biased to turn in a clockwise direction by a spring 9 and connected to the switch lever 5 by a collapsible connection or toggle comprising links 10 and 11 which are pivotally connected at 12, the link 10 being pivoted to the intermediate lever 8 at 13 and the link 11 to the switch lever 5 at 14. The toggle formed by links 10 and 11, when straightened and latched by a catch lever 15'wl1ich engages the link 10 at its end 16, looks the switch lever 5 and the intermediate lever 8 so that they are rotatable as a unit-on the shaft 4 in a counterclockwise direction, that is in a direction to close the switch contacts. The catch lever 15 is pivoted to the link 11 at a point intermediate its ends. When the toggle is latched, the switch lever 5 and the interme di'ate lever 8 are rotatable on the shaft 4 by an operating lever 17 secured to the shaft 4 to rotate therewith and turnthe dog 18 which is also secured to the shaft 4 to rotate therewith, the dog 18 having a projecting ortion 19 arranged to bear against the mtermediate lever 81 Pivoted on a shaft 20, that'is mounted in the casing 1, is a resetting lever 21, biased to turn in a clockwise direction by a s ring 22- and provided with a roller 23, a apted to move along the camshaped ed e 24 of the intermediate lever 8 and normal ily .seated in a concave portion 25 of said edge to prevent the intermediate lever from moving under the action of spring 0] SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELMTBIO comm, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

- to straighten the toggle links and 11 until it is desired to reset the switch after it has been opened by the electroresponsive device 3 which may be responsive to underload, under voltage or other predetermined conditions on the circuit controlled by the switch. a

The electroresponsive device 3 comprises a frame 26 secured to the casing 1 and supporting a coil 27 having a core 28 and adapted to be connected in circuit with the line protected by the switch. Pivotally mounted on the frame 26 is an armature 29 biased to turn in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 30 and also by gravity and provided with a tripping lug 31 arranged to engage the trip lever 15 and a resetting lug 32 adapted for engagement with the projecting portion 33 of the resetting lever 21. The armature v29 may be provided with a short circuited coil 34 to prevent chattering when the switch is used on alternating current circuits.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: Assuming, as shown in Fig. 1, that the parts are in the switch closed position, underload, undervoltage or other predetermined conditions to which the electroresponsive device 3 is responsive, will cause the core 28 to release the armature 29 which under the action of spring 30 and gravity, turns in a direction to cause the tripping lug 31 to hit the catch lever 15 thereby releasing the toggle link 10 and allowing the toggle to buckle. The switch lever 5 isthen free to move on the shaft 4 independently of the intermediate lever 8 and, under the action of the spring 7 assisted by the weight of the switch parts, moves in a direction to cause the switch rod 6 to open the switch contacts. The various parts are then in the switch opened position as shown in Fi 2 nthe projecting end 35 of the switch lever 5 comlng against shaft 20 as a stop to arrest its motion.

To close the switch, the operating lever 17 is first turned clockwise thus turning the shaft 4 and the dog 18 secured thereto, until a lug 36 on the dog 18 comes into contact with the corner 37 of the resetting lever 21 and turns this lever sufficiently to raise the roller 23 out of the concave portion 25 of the intermediate lever 8 thereby releasing the lever 8 which under the action of the spring '9 at once turns in a clockwise direction to straighten the toggle and thus lock the intermediate lever 8 and the switch lever 5 for the switch closing movement. As the resetting lever 21 is turned by the lug 36 of the dog 18, the projecting portion 33 bears against the resetting lug 32 on the armature 29 and turns the armature 29 to the position it occupies when attracted by the coil 28. The clockwise movement of the operating lever 17 is finally arrested by a projecting portion 38 of the lug 36 which comes to a stop against shaft 20. When the intermediate lever 8 moves to straighten the toggle, the roller 23 rides upon the camshaped edge 24 and the resetting lever 21 is thus maintained in a position to hold the armature 29 against its core 28, until such time as the roller 23 is again enabled to seat in the concave portion 25 of the cam-shaped edge 24. The operating lever 17 is now turned counter-clockwise and the projection portion 19 on the lug l8 bears against the intermediate lever 8 thus turning it and the switch lever 5 locked thereto by thelatch'ed toggle links 10 and 11 in a direction to cause the rod 6 to close the switch contacts. As the lever 17 is moved. the roller 23 on the resetting lever 21 follows along the camshaped edge 24 until it rides over the upper convex portion thereof and drops into the concave portion 25 with the final movement of the operating lever, thus releasing or freeing the resetting lever 21 from the resetting lug 32 of the armature so that if the coil 27 is notsufiiciently energized the armature 29 is free to drop and trip out the switch as heretofore described, but if the coil 27 is 'sufliciently energized to hold the armature in the attracted position against theaction of spring 30 and gravity, the switch will remain closed. The switch may be opened, whenever desired, without buckling the toggle by turning the operating lever 17 and therefore the dog 18 clockwise, until the lug 36 on the dog 18 turns the resetting lever 21 suiiiciently toraise the roller 23 out of the concave portion 25 of the cam-shaped edge 24. The switch lever 5 and the intermediate lever 8 under the joint action of springs 7 and 9 assisted'by the weight of the switch parts, then turn clockwise as a unit on the shaft 4 to open the switch;

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, there is mounted in a suitable switch casing or box-like structure 39, a switch operating mechanism 40 arranged to be tripped by a suitable electroresponsive device 41.

The switch operating mechanism comprises a switch lever 42 mounted to turn on a shaft 43 and move thereby suitable contact controlling members, not shown, which are connected thereto. biased to turn in switch opening direction by a spring 44. Also on the shaft 43, is a pivotally mounted member 45, hereinafter called an intermediate lever for clearness in description, that is connected by links 46 to an operating lever 47 mounted to turn on a shaft 48. The intermediate lever 45 is connected with an arm 49 of the switch lever' 42 by a collapsible connection or underset toggle comprising links 50'and 51 which are pivotally connected by a pin 52, the link 50 The switch lever 42 is beingpivoted to the intermediatelever at 53and the link 51 to the switch lever arm 49 at 54. The link 51 is stop- 55 which seats on the link 50 to revent oveitravel of the toggle when *straig tened. The toggle formed ythe links 50 and 51., when straightened and latched by a catch lever 56, pivotally mounted on the link 51 and arranged to en age the link 50 at one end thereof, locks t e switch lever 42 and the intermediate lever 45 so that they are rotatable as .a unit on the shaft 43 by the operating lever 47 in a counter-clockwise direction, that is in the direction to close the switch contacts.

The electroresponsive device 41 comprises a frame 57 on which is mounted a 'coil 58 provided with a suitable magnetic structure 59. The coil 58is adapted to be connected in circuit to control the operation of an armature 60, pivotally mounted on the frame 57, in response topredetermined conditions, for example, underload, under-voltage, etc., on the circuit protected by the. switch. The armature 60 may be provided with a short circuited coil 60 to prevent chattering when the device is used on' alternating current circuits. The armature 60 is connected by a link 61, see Fig. 5, to

a trip lever 62, pivotally mounted on theframe 57 and biased by a spring 63 to as sist gravity in turning the armature 60 from its attracted position when the magnetic efiect of coil 58 is not suflicient 'to hold it. The catch lever 56 is provided with a trip lu or projection 64 arranged'to be engaged y a projection or lug 65 on the triplever 62, thus releasing the catch lever 56 from the link 50 to allow the toggle to buckle. Pivotally mounted on the frame 57 is a resetting lever 66, as best shown in' Fig. 5, biased by a spring 67 to turn to a position such that a resetting lug 68 on one end thereof bears on the trip lever 62 to turn the armature 60 into the position it occupies 'when attracted by the coil 58. The other end of the resetting lever 66 is provided with a releasing lug 69 against which the lower end 70 of the intermediate lever 45 is adapted to bear so as toturn the resetting lever 66 into a position such that the resetting lug 68 is clear of the trip lever 62 thereby freeing the armature 60 so that it can move from its attracted position if the coil 58 is not sufiiciently energized.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is 'as follows :Assuming, as shown in Fig. 3, that. the parts are in the switch closed position, the occurrence of a predetermined condition on the circuit controlled by the switch will cause the electroresponsive device 41 to release the armature 60. The weight of thearmature 60 combined with the action of the spring 63 turns the trip provided with alever 62 in a direction to cause its lug 65 to hit the trip lug 64 on the catch lever 56 thereby releasing the toggle link 50 and allowing the toggle to buckle. The switch 'lever 42 is then free to move on the shaft 43 independently of the intermediate level 45 and, under the action of the spring 44 assisted by the weight of the switch parts,

turns in a clockwise direction to cause the opening of the switch. The various parts are then in the switch opened position, as

shown in Fig. 4.

To close the switch. the operating lever 47 is first turned clockwise thus turning the closed position. see Figs. 3 and 4, bears against the releasing lug 69 to hold the resetting lever in a position such that the resetting lug 68 is clear of the trip lever 62. When the operating lever 47 has been turned sufficiently. the resetting lug 68 on the resetting lever 66 bears against the trip lever 62, see Figs. 5 and 6, which. under the action of the spring 67, is caused toraise the armature 60 into the position it occupies when attracted by the coil 58. Further clockwise movement of the operating lever 47 straightens the toggle which is locked by the catch lever 56 engaging the link 50, thus locking the switch lever 42 and the intermediate lever 45 to turn as a unit on. the shaft 43. The various parts are now in position for the switch closing movement which is accomplished by turning the operating lever in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement ofthe operating lever 47 causes the switch lever 42 and the intermediate lever 45 to move as a unit on the shaft 43 and just prior to the final closing movement of the. switch lever 42, see Figs. 5 and 6, the lower end 70 of the intermediate lever 45, engages the releasing lug 69 of the resetting lever 66 which is thusturned counter-clockwise so as to raise the resetting log 68 clear of the trip lever 62. Therefore, if predetermined conditions to which the 'electroresponsive device 41 is responsive prevail on the circuit controlled by the switch, the armature 60 will'be free to turn from its reset or attracted position to cause the tripping of the catch lever 56 and thereby the opening of the switch independently of it the operating lever 47 as heretofore explained. .If, however, the armature 60 remains in the reset or attracted position. the

free to operate to open the switch upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions to which the electroresponsive device 41 is responsive. The part of the operating lever 47 pivoted to the link 46 operates through a slot in the casing 39 and the lug 47' which.

engages the casing 39 to revent overtravel of the toggle also closes t e slot in the casing to exclude dust or other foreign materials.

It is obvious that the switch may be opened whenever desired, without first buckling the toggle formed by links 50 and 51,by turning the operatin lever 47 clockwise, thus causing the switch lever 42 and the intermediate lever 45 to turn clockwise as a unit on the shaft 43.

It is, therefore, clear that with switches constructed in accordance with my invention no care or thought need be given to the resetting mechanism during the operation of the switch. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the feature of delayed release of the resetting mechanism allows a maximum possible time for a short circuit or other abnormal condition on the line to clear itself. That is to say, while the switch cannot be held closed with a short circuit or other abnormal condition on the line, it

will nevertheless remain closed if the short circuit or other abnormal condition clears itself during the time that the operating lever is being operated to close the circuit. Furthermore, all of the mechanism is enclosed in a dust proof casing and, in the automatic opening of the switch no parts exterior to the switch casing move, thus eliminating any possible danger to attendants or others from levers,'etc. moving at unexpected times.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications, substitutions or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. An electric switch comprising a rotatably mounted switch lever, a pivotally mounted member, a toggle for locking said switch lever and said pivotally mounted member to turn as a unit, means comprising an armature arranged to be released to trip said toggle to open the switch upon predetermined conditions and an operatin lever adapted to be moved, in one direction to. straighten said toggle and reset said arma-' ture and in the opposite direction to close the switch and free said armature in the final closing movement.

2. An electric switch comprising a rotatably mounted switch lever, a pivotally mounted member, a to gle for locking said switch lever and sai pivotally mounted member to turn as a unit, means compna an armature arranged to be released to trip said tog le to open the switch upon prede termine conditions, means for resetting said armature, and an operating lever adapted to be moved in one direction to straighten said toggle and actuate said resetting means and in the opposite direction to close the switch and in the final closing movement to cause said resetting means to free said armature.

3. An electric switch comprisin a shaft, a switch lever mounted to turn t ereon, a. pivotally mounted member adapted to turn independently of said switch lever, a toggle for locking said switch lever and said pivotally mounted member to turn together, electromagnetic means comprising an armature arranged to be released to trip said tog le to open the switch in response to pre etermined conditions, an o crating lever adapted to be moved in one direction to straighten said toggle or open the switch if the toggle has not been trip ed and in the opposlte direction to close t e switch, and means 00-- operating with said operating lever to reset said armature on the movement of the o crating lever in a direction to straightent e .toggle and to free said armature on the final movement of the operating lever in a direction to close the switch.

4. An electric switch comprising a pivotally mounted switch lever iased to move in circuit opening direction and provided with a projecting arm, a pivotally mounted member, a collapsible connection between said projecting arm and said pivotally mounted member adapted to be set to cause said pivotally mounted member and saidswitch lever to turn as a unit, electroresponsive means comprisin an armature biased to buckle said collapsible connection to cause the opening of the switch in response to predetermined conditions, a resetting lever biased to reset said armature and arranged to be restrained by said pivotally mounted member, and an operating lever movable in one direction toturn said pivotally mounted member to reset said colla sible connection and releasesaid lever and in the opposite direction to close the switch and move said resetting lever to free said armature.

5. An electric switch comprisin a rotatably mounted switch lever biased to move in circuit opening direction and provided with a projecting arm, a pivotally mounted member, a collapsible connection between said pivotally mounted member and said projecting arm adapted to be set to cause said pivotally mounted member and said switch lever to turn together, electroresponsive means comprising an armature ada ted to be released in response to predetermined conditions, a trip lever connected to said armature and arranged to buckle said collapsihle connection, a lever biased to site direction to close the switch, and intake cause said trip lever to reset said armature final closing movement to restrain said re- 10 and normally restrained by said pivotally' settin lever whereby said trip lever is'free mounted member, an'operating lever conto buc 1e said collapsible connection.

I nected to said pivotally mounted member In witnem whereof, I have hereunto set and movable m one direction to cause the my hand this 19th day of May, 1921. same to set said colla 'ble connection and release saidresettingever and in'the oppo- WAYNE K. BEYERL. 

